Sam Holmstrom

• Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Specialization in Health Psychology and Minor in Neuroscience (2018)

Sam earned her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a Specialization in Health Psychology and a Minor in Neuroscience, in 2018. Today, she works as a Student Systems Support Officer in the Registrar’s Office at Carleton University.

Brief description of what I do!

My current role is in business systems development which includes project management, CRM system development and maintenance. Day to day this looks like developing tools and workflows within our customer relations management system, gathering and documenting technical requirements, and troubleshooting user/data issues.

Outside work, I curate a collection of hobbies and tend to my garden and dog.

What inspired your career path after graduation?

After graduation, I wanted a stable starting point, but it became just as important to me to feel connected to my work. Staying at the university allowed me to give back to the community I had already been a part of. I was able to support students and staff through my role in administration and systems support. Being part of that environment from a different perspective has been really rewarding.

How did your experience in the psychology program shape your journey?

The psychology program gave me a lot of perspective and opportunities to challenge myself. Prior to the program, I was not confident that I could take on complex roles or jobs that required a lot of critical thinking. Research Methods and Statistics showed me how to recognize patterns. In Sports Psychology, the mental coaching taught me persistence and resilience. But most of all, the program taught me to be curious and ask why. It helped me nurture my desire to learn.

What skills or experiences were most valuable after graduation?

The critical thinking skills and ability to challenge my own perspective and biases.

Are there specific Psychology courses, professors, or experiences that stood out during your time at Carleton?

So many. My thesis supervisor, John Zelenski, was an amazing support during my final year. He provided a steady quiet support. I was also able to be a TA for Sport Psychology and Research Methods and Statistics (which I was also a PASS facilitator for). I enjoyed teaching/reframing these topics to my peers and I think it helped reinforce the concepts for me too.

What has been a highlight or proud moment in your career so far?

I am proud of moving forward with curiosity and not being scared to really try something out.